The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-02-04

"ovens" and "skillets"-circular, cast iron
vessels standing on legs, high enough to
allow layer OF live Goals to be placed bA.
meath them, They were covered by lid
with n ledge around it, to retain tho mass OF
Goals hcaped on top The cooks scepter was
wooden hook, with which she moved the
kettles and ovens and lifted lids, while the re.
lentless fire scorched her arms and face rud,
der than cherry.
It was a primitive way and so wasteful OF
wood that 1t required tree to furnish fuel
enough to prepare breakfast, but under the
hands of a skillful woman those ovens and
skillets turned out viands with a flavor that
no modern appliance can equal.
The Joists OF tho house were thickly hung
with the small delicious hams of the country
hams made from young and tender hogs,
which had lived and fattened upon the
acorns, fragrant hickory nuts and dainty
beach nuts OF the abundant mast" of the
forest, until they were saturated with their
delicate, nutty flavor. This was farther en-
riched by piquancy gained from the smoke
of the burning hickory and oak, with which
they were cured, and the absorption of odors
from the scented herbs in the rooms where
they were drying. Many have sung the
praises of Kentucky's horses, whisky and
women, but no poet has tuned his lyre to the
more fruitful theme Of KentucLy's mast fed.
smoke-cured, herb-scentod hams. For such a
man waits a crown of enduring bays.
Slices of this savory ham, fried in skillet
the truth Of history forces the reluctant
confession that the march of progress had
not yet brought the gridiron and its virtues
to the mountains-a hot pone of golden yell
low meal, whose steaming sweetness had not
been allowed to distill off, but had been
forced back into the loaf by the hot oven lid /;
coffee Us black and strong as the virile in
fusions which cheer the hearts of the true be-
levers in the tents of the Turk, and cream
from cows that cropped the odorous and
juicy grasses Of mountain meadows, made O
breakfast that could not have been more ap-
petizing if composed by a French chef, and
garnishcd by polygot bill of fare.
Moved thereto by the hospitable urgings of
Aunt Debby and his own appetite, Harry ate
heartily Under the influence of the COM
Portable meal, the cheerful sunshine and the
rousing of the energies that follow change
from a recumbent to an erect posture, his
spirits rose to manlier pitch AS he could
not walk without pain, he took his seat in q
chair by the side of the hearth,
and Aunt Debby, knitting in hand, occupied
a low rocker nearly opposite
"Wheres Mr. Fortnere" asked Harry.
"Jim got up arly, an arter eatn' snack,
said he'd 60 out an take a look around-meb-
be he mout 60 ez fur ez the ford"
AS if to accompany Hany's instructive
tremor over the possibilities attending the
resumption of Fortner's proving aro.nd the
TANKS of Zollicoffer's army, the fire shot off
a whole volley of sharp little explosions.
Harry sprang two or three inches above
his chair, then Redeemed violently, and es-
sayed to conceal his confusion by assiduous
attention with the poker to the wants of the
fire.
Aunt Debby regarded him with gentle COM
passion.
Eyer all shuck up by the Happenings yester-
day." she said with such tactful sympathy
that his sensitive mettle was not offended.
4" IT'S natural We should be. Hits alters SO.
Folks kin say what they please, but fouten's
terrible tryin' to the narves, no matter who
does hit My husband WIZ in the Mexican
war, an he's often tole me tibet fur weeks
artcr the battle O Buner Visty he couldn't
heah a twig snap withouten his heart poppin'
right up inter his mouth and hit wuz so
with everybody else, much ez they tried ter
play off unconsarned like"
"Ah, really" said HArry, deeply interested
in oil that concerned 1eis woman, whose re-
qualities we're impressing them
selves upon bis recal zion. ..Wtat paEt of
tho army ala your lFia band Defoig toihr
ALE wuz in the Kentucky regiment COM
manded by Kunnel Henry Clay, son o'.the
great Henry Clay, who wuz killed thar. My
husband was promoted to a leftenant fur his
brav'ry in the battle.
ware"
"No, indeed" said she, with Just trace Of
pride dwelling in the temples delicate net
work of blue veins. "The FORMERS an the
Drills air soljcr families, an ther young men
hev shouldered Their guns whenever the
country needed fouten men. Great gram
fathers Brill on Fortner come inter the state
along with Dan'l Boone nigh on ter q hum
lred years ago, and sence then them an Their
hev fit Injuns. Brittishers an
Mexikins cv'ry time an inimy raised sword
agin the country"
"Many of them lose their livesl'
ayes; cv'ry war hez cost the families some
Gran'fathers Brill an Fortner war Z.
both on 'cm killed at the Injun ambush at
Blue Licks. I wuz only baby when my
father wuz killed at the massacre of Win.
chester's men at the River Raisin. My
brother"-
"Father of the man I was with yester-
days"
"No; his father wuz my Oldest brother
My youngest brother-the baby of the fam
ily-wus MORALLY wounded by a copper ball
in the charge on the bishops palace at the
takin' O. Monterey"
"And your husband-he went through the
war safely, did he!'
The pleasant mobile lines upon the woman's
face CONCEALED into stony hardness At the
of Harry's question she was begin
ming to count the stitches in her work for
some feminine mystery of narrowing" or
turning" She stopped, and hands and knit
ting dropped into her lap.
"My husband" she said slowly and bitterly,
"wuz spared by the Mexikins tibet he fit, but
not by his own countrymen an neighbors,
amongst whom ..e wuz brung up. His blood
wuz not poured out on the soil he invaded.
but wuz drunk by the land his forefathers an
kinsmen he'd died fur The goddess greasers
On the Rier Grande war kinder ter him nor
The Christian gentlemen on the Rockassel."
The intensity and bitterness Of the utter
ance revealed long coming of the express
sion of bitter truths.
"He lost his life, them" said Harry, par
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